Spring-box for time-lock movements.



G. A. MILLER.

. SPRING BOX FOR TIME LOOK MOVEMENTS.

APPLIGATI ON FILED D120. 21, 1908.

954,323. Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

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Mm Ailarney UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. MILLER, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE &TOWNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SPRING-BOX FOR TIME-LOCK MOVEMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crmnnns A. MILLER, of Stamford, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Spring- Boxes for Time-Lock Movements; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in spring boxes for time lockmovements.

Heretofore it has been the universal practice to attach one end of thetime movement spring, to a lug or pin fixed to the inside of the springhousing, the lug or pin projecting into the housing. This inwardlyprojecting lug has always been an objectionable feature, as it projectssufiiciently to engage the next coil of the spring and bend the latterinwardly, and when wound or under tension, the tendency of the spring isto pull away from the inner surface of the box, thus throwing all thestrain on the pin and on the end of the spring weakened by the holethrough which the pin or lug passes.

The object of my invention is to provide a box or housing for thespring, with means whereby the tension on the spring forces its attachedend into contact with the box, and thus by its frictional contact withthe outer surface of the box, relieve the lug or pin and the end of thespring of destructive strains.

A further object is to so connect the spring and box, that the formercan be placed within the box and secured thereto without the employmentof special tools.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the parts andcombinations of parts and in the details of construction, as will bemore fully explained and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of myimproved spring box or barrel. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of thespring and box looking toward the rear or open end of the box and Fig. 3is a view in transverse section taken through the spring holding lug orpin.

1 represents the housing open at one end and closed at the other, theclosed end having a central opening for the passage of a shaft orspindle. The open end of the box is provided with a flange 2, by whichit is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 21, 1908.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910. Serial No. 468,549.

secured in its proper position to the frame carrying the time movementof the look. This box or housing is provided in its side and through itsflange 2 with a slot 3 which latter is of ample width to permit thespring l to readily pass theretln'ough. The inner wall of the box, atthe side of the slot farthest removed from the spring holding pin or lug5 is cut away as at (5, and the outer wall of the box at the side of theslot adjacent the pin or lug 5 is also cut away as at 7, so as to permitthe outer end of the spring to pass in approximately a straight linefrom the inside of the box to the outside, and thus avoid any bends inthe spring or sharp angles in the box against which the spring bears.

The sprin t is of the Hat type shown and its outer enc passes throughthe slot 3 and bears against the outer face of the box from the edge ofthe slot, to the lug or pin 5 which latter passes through a hole in thespring and locks the latter in place. The inner end of the spring issecured by means of a slot in the spring, to receive a pin on the springarbor or winding stem (not shown) of the time movement. By slotting theflange and the side of the housing as shown, the spring can be inserted,while in its coiled position, into the housing through the open endthereof, the outer end of the spring passing through the slot in theflange, into the slot in the side of the housing.

By this construction of spring box, it will be seen that in winding, orwhen the spring is under tension, it. bears against the outer face ofthe box and by its frictional contact with said box, takes part of thestrain from the end of the spring and also from the pin or lug to whichthe spring is attached. In the old form in which the attaching pin orlug is inside the box, the winding of the springs tends to pull thelatter away from the inner wall of the box or housing, and thus throwthe entire strain on the pin. Again with the spring attached to theouter face of the box or housing, I am enabled to use a longer andstronger spring than those now in use, and as the lug is on the outsideand accessible, the spring can be applied to and removed from the boxwithout the use of any special tools.

It is evident that many slight changes might be resorted to in therelative arrangement of parts shown and described without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understoodthat I do not wish to confine myself to the exactconstruction andarrangement of parts shown and described, but,

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is

In a spring box for time locks, the combination of a housing closed atone end and open at the other and provided at its open end with anoutwardly projecting flange for its attachment to the time movementframe, and with a slot extending through its flange and side wall andterminating adjacent the closed end of the housing, a lug projectingoutwardly from the outer face of the Wall of the housing, and a springwithin the housing, the outer end of said spring passing through theslot in the wall of the housing and secured to said lug.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. A. MILLER.

WVitnesses:

W. H; TAYLOR, W. E. WVEssoN.

